The glasse of mans folly and meanes to amendment, for the health and wealth of soule and body. This glasse of mans folly, is that we may know, the cause of the cruelty, which dayly doth flow. ...

¶ Excesse of Apparell reprooued,

S. Paule willeth that Women adorne themselues in modest apparell, with shamefastnes and sobrietie. Whereby we must learne that modest apparell sister in equalitie to shamefastnes and sobrietie, doth more adorne and beautifie. But the contraries are common. Immodest apparell out of measure, boldnesse and light behauiour. A Garment is fittest to modestie, voyde of superfluitie. Who goe more in gaudes then great mens Idiotes? Yet many imitate the

same, with néedlesse vanities and tokens of wantonnesse. Excesse is so in vse, that shamefastnes and modestie with ma∣nie are absent, when Curiositie, gay Tufts, great Ruffs, stiffe Necks, Stout-looke, with small Grace, is present. Bold as a Bull, w^t tokens of dishonesty, blushing no more then a beast.

The holy Ghost fordiddeth Broydered haire, or golde, or pearles, or costly Aray. Some say, It is not costly, so long as they can maintaine it. Consider, The Lorde threatned to punish the Princes and the Kings children, and all, such as are clothed with strange Apparell. Much more ought Cin∣cinnata to feare, which is poore, yet pompous.

We must not clad clay to the outmost of abilitie, but learne the Apostles meaning; for golde, pearles, and costly Aray is not only forbiddē, but also broided haire (which is not costly) but plaited, bushed, or laid out: wherby all pōp & prouocations to euill is forbidden) which wanton women procure, in dec∣king themselues. For it is is a meanes to drawe the heart to delight the bodie, and leaude pleasures thereof, the World, and vanities thereof, to renounce Gods Kingdome, and the Ioyes thereof, to haue Hell and the torments thereof. There∣fore such vanitie is forbidden, and the habite agreable to mo∣destie, shamefastnes, and sobrietie commanded.

Noahs Arke was pitched without and within: So the out∣ward habit must be as the humble hart, & our harts must be reformed, else our actions are abhorred. 1. Peter. 3. Whose adorning let it not bee that outward, of plaiting the haire, and of wearing of golde, or of putting on of Apparell. It requires the Ornament of a méeke and quiet spirite, as holie men which trusted in God adorned themselues. Cap: 5. He bids them be clothed with humilitie; For GOD resisteth the proud, and giueth grace to the humble. But many are clo∣thed with haughtines, as if pleasures were their God.

The 7. commandement is, Thou shalt not commit adultry: which is to be vnderstood, the euill acte, and prouocations; as vnchast behauiour, wanton apparell. Abstain from all appea∣rance of euill: That hath any shewe of euill. It is written Deut: 22.5. The woman shall not weare that which partai∣neth

vnto a man, neither shall a mā put on a womās garmēt.

This seemes a small matter: so did it to Eue, to taste for∣bidden fruit. Oh foolish flesh! it followes: for all that doe so, are abhomination vnto the Lord thy God. It seemes some care not to be abhorred of God, they will be as fine as D. in their Dubblets, liker men, then women: wanton apparell is forbidden, vers 11. Thou shalt not weare a garment of diuers sorts, as of Wollen, and Linnen together: but where the lusts of the flesh are delighted, God is not regarded: for some at Font for fashion, vowe to him that they forsake the Deuill and all his workes, the vaine pompe and glory of the world, tha carnall desires of the flesh, and that they will not follow nor be led by them, yet painted for a Play, ruft like a royster. Some that haue hayre of their owne are not content with the colour God gaue it, but weare hayre none of their owne. Others launch out their hayre dyed a Trim-tawny: then must be muske, to preuent the sent: so perseuering in wan∣ton behauiour they breake their fidelitie and couenant made with God, promise in Baptisme is forgotten. Oh be not hy∣pocrites, but Christians in déede: promises to men must be perfomed, Psal. 15. much more vowes made to God. For∣sake your vanities, follow righteousnesse, lest yee feele your folly, Esa. 3. The Lord saith, because the daughters of Zion are hautie, and walke with stretched forth neckes, and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they goe, and making a tinkling with their feet: he would take away their braue∣rie, and giue them in stéed of well set hayre, baldnesse; which came to passe with much miserie.

You with great Ruffes, and stretched neckes, leaue it: when pride is at the highest, it is neerest the fall, 2 Kings 9. Iezabel painted her face, and attired her head, but presently trodden vnder feet, and torne with Dogges: yet painting and making the face shine like a shoing-horne, is common.

Qui se pingunt in hoc seculo, aliter quam creauit Deus, metuant ne cum dies resurrectionis venerit, artifex creaturam suam non recognoscat. Those which paint or colour themselues in this world otherwise then God hath made them, let them feare,

lest when the day of Iudgement commeth, the Lord will not know them for his creatures. Some will haue their beauty decored, it is to be feared their soules are deformed. And as their soules are alienated and estranged, so their bodies are metamorphosed, and changed from the fashion God framed them.

Exornation hath no order: Many make themselues ga∣sing-stockes till they proue poore, and are kept on the Parish, Prou. 7. She that inticed the young man was clothed in har∣lots attire; whereby we gather by the holy Ghost, that intin∣cing attyre is whorish, Tit. 2. Temperance is an adiunct to Christians: if Adam and Eue had continued in their first e∣state, garments had beene néedlesse: and shall we extoll our selues in that which our perfidious act procured? Will a Théefe gild the rope his théeuish act hath purchased? If a Sem∣pronian say: The rope bereft the life, but apparell preserues the same: I say, costly array which is by Gods word forbid∣den, is a meanes to kill Body and Soule, Prou. 3.5. Leane not vnto thine owne vnderstanding: the least sinne deserues damnation; yet we forsake heauenly directions, and follow fleshly affections. Suus cuiusque crepitus, sibi bene olet: euery one thinketh his owne wayes best. O be not wey-ward, but warned, for the holy Ghost speakes not in vaine. God made Adam and Eue coates of skinnes, and cloathed them; yet they had the superioritie of the whole Earth. Therefore this pre∣pared apparell for them should be as a glasse to vs, to sée and flye from Folly: and a Pedagogie to teach vs to vse it for ne∣cessitie, not for sensualitie.

But how agrée the comely coates of these wealthy Go∣uernours, with the superfluous fashions of Wat Waste-all. and fooleries of Minion Marre-all, which goe past their abilitie, shamelesse and gracelesse with all their wealth in va∣nities to be viewed? And how agreeth fancy fine nobles, with iagges, welts, gardes, gay tufts, great Rufs, confused sets, supporters, bushes to make their bodies straight, and want of Gods word to rule their soules right? their corked héeles set vp so hie, that some doe tread awry. They despise

and didiget at those that weare small Bands, and plaine de∣cent apparell, which are worne for foure causes. First, to be obedient to God, and agreeable to his word. Secondly, for a helpe to pull downe our pride. Thirdly, to win others. Fourthly, they maintaine it with trueth and honestie. Boe ashamed you and yours, that consume all by your excesse.

Pride is combined with witlesse fashions: Some men are like monsters, with Ruffes, farre excéeding former Ruffins: Boyes haue shalt haired heads; some bigger, a curious cut; lockes for pediculus, long of each side, stigmaticall like. He that subiected his body, saith: Doth not euen Nature it selfe teach you, that if a man haue long hayre it is a shame vnto him? 1 Cor. 11. Nitimur in vetitum semper, cupimus{que} negata. We desire things forbid, and couet things denyed vs. Spa∣nish pompe, and Spaniards pride hath long lockes, as if they were ashamed of their eares; with Shirts hanging out at knees, disguised from top to toe, as if they went to the pit in∣fernall.

A mans attire, and excessiue laughter and gate, shew what he is. Ambr. 1. Officior. Est in ipso motu, gestu, & incessu te∣nenda verecundia: habitus enim animi in corporis statu cognoscitur. Externall actions bewraye internall affections: some excéed in varietie as though they might spend much a yere by Land, yet nothing. Men of Nobilitie, Gentilitie, and Yeomen of habilitie goe decent and plaine, when farre inferiours are shin-trim, and garded with others goods got by guile. O earth be humble, Gen. 2.7. thou wert made of that beasts tread vpon, Gen. 3.14. and of that Serpents eate on. Our first Parents were Gods Vicegerents, and God could as easily haue cloathed them in gorgeous apparrell as in plaine coates of skinnes. Then minde it, it was to mooue vs to mediocritie.

Those garmenes speake to vs that GOD allowes vs cloths to couer our nakednes, but not to abuse them in excesse. Christ nor his Apostles gaue no such examples: Christs gar∣ment was without seame. Math. 3. Iohn had his rayment

of Camels hayre, and a leathern pelt about his loynes. Gods children haue beene content to weare sheepes skinnes, and Goates skinnes. Garments according to euery mans calling, plaine and comely, are commendable: we may vse them, but not abuse them. It is lawfull to eate, drinke, and weare ap∣parell: but excesse of eyther incurres Gods displeasure. Ha∣uing food and raiment, let vs therewith be content. It is more then God owes vs, and wee (proud beggars) deserue nothing but damnation. Content must be when wee haue but food and rayment: if riches, wee must not consume them on our lusts: If a Ruffin say that he and his doe vse excesse to please his Wife, he is not fit to rule a householde, and vnlike the good Centurion, to say, Doe this, and it is done. Saith Iosua, 24.15. As for me, and my household, wee will serue the Lord. Pray that she which allures thée, and oft rules thee, be not a let like Eue, but a helpe as Sara: not sauadge, but sage. Pro. 31. The price of the vertuous is farre aboue Ru∣bies. If she be such, so is thy household, prayse God for her; if she be not, pray God to conuert her. Be not Cynicus, som•••• suffer sorrow: admonish her quietly, loue her, and winne her with lenitie. If shée see that you gréeue indéed, that shée offend God by her excessiue attire, she cannot loue thee and vse it, but leaue it if she loue thée. Loue God and leaue it, hee forbids it: it is an offence to Gods children, whom hee hath such care of, that it were better for their offender, that a Mill stone were hanged about his necke, and that hee were drowned in the depth of the Sea, Math. 1••. Some lawfull thing to auoyd offence is to be omitted: much more vnlawfull, as such ex∣cesse. And who dare disobey Gods word? except such as in heart haue him not: his word is sufficient to conuince: yet the sayings of the Painims incomparable in efficacie to hea∣uenly Diuinity may be expressed, because their careful doings excell carelesse Christians.

Hate pride, desire to be cleanly, not gorgeous in apparell: Hee toucheth the Momes, not men, which spend all at the Ale-house till hare skin appeares: and dirtie (not deyrie) wo∣men, which launch their hayre out long, and leaue it in whit∣meat.

Oh foole, gorgeous apparrell is not an Ornament, but a shame, and manifest shew of thy folly. Hee toucheth those that would be extolled, but haue shame in stead of fame: for Ruffians speake rashly of their dishonesty.

Gay apparrelled women stand foorth as bayts to catch men. Hee toucheth the disguised with fore-heads frizled, which buye Complexion, and cause an euill action standing more bold then bashfull, painted to play with.

The women of Lacedemon refused the rich Roabes King Dionisius sent them, saying they would do them more shame then honour. If such were now offered, stretched out armes would reach them, and gréedy Gehesa would haue them.

Some so delight the flesh, that good sayings nor examples doe not amend their misdoings. Demas forsaketh the hea∣uenly conuersation of Saint Paul, and imbraceth this present world: (the Vipers garled skinne, whose venemous sting is deadly.) Oh eleuate thy heart to heauen: If any man haue not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Now let vs examine our selues: Doth the Spirit of Christ, which is alwaies in sharpe and painefull battels with the flesh, and locked in that dungeon of dung, delight to set out, the same in excesse? No, for it is a meanes of carnall desires: it hath respect to the soule, by whom the body liueth. It al∣lowes the body that is néedfull, and liues for life, not for lust, longs to bee with God, and delights that natiue Kingdome. It ioyes in the deliuerie from the inticements of the flesh, world, and diuell, with whom it fights, séeking to subdue the flesh by often abstinence, watching, prayer, and forsaking pompe and pride. But our painting is apparant that we are not in battell, but are inordinate louers of our bodies.

Good God giue vs grace to amend, that with a liuely faith we may apprehend Christs merits, and be cloathed with his white Roabe of righteousnesse: to whom with the Father, and the holy Ghost be all honour foreuer, Amen.

Seruite Iehouae.

Notes

• Zephan: 1.8,
• 1. Thess: 5.
• Psal. 76.11 Deu. 23.21
• Cyprian.
• Gen. 3.21.
• Ecclus. 19.30.
• Heb. 11.37.
• Tim. 6.
• Mat. 18.
• Monta.
• Sophocles.
• Aurelius.
• Rom. 8.